Premier League Stars Who Played for Either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund

While the Bundesliga is currently the only ticket in town for top-level football, it has been the ideal destination for a group of young British players seeking regular gametime for quite a while now.

However, the Premier League too has been a major pull for Germany-based players over the years.

Since its inception in 1992, the Premier League has lured some of Germany's finest talents, and in particular, a notable few from Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

The two sides of der Klassiker have become the focal points of German football, and continue to produce some of the game's most talented players.

Here's a look then at a number of stars who have lined up for either Dortmund or Bayern as well as in the Premier League...

Bayern Munich

Jürgen Klinsmann

The iconic German striker is a Tottenham fan favourite, yet he also enjoyed a prolific spell at Bayern Munich after his first spell in north London, tucking away a tidy 48 goals in 84 games in all competitions, as he won the UEFA Cup and Bundesliga in two seasons in Bavaria.

While he also spent time with Stuttgart, Monaco and Sampdoria, he is perhaps better known for hsi work at international level helping Germany to World Cup glory in 1990, as well as European Championship success six years later.

Christian Ziege

After breaking English hearts at Euro 96, the full-back found his way to the Premier League in 1999, joining Middlesbrough in 1999.

The German had spent seven years at Bayern previously, as well as a brief spell with AC Milan, before going on to lineup for Boro, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

His one-year cameo at Anfield coincided with the club swooping a miraculous treble-winning season. Lucky charm.

Dietmar Hamann

While not exactly the most graceful looking midfielder, the big German was certainly effective, helping Bayern to two Bundesliga titles as well as the 1996 UEFA Cup.

As for his time in England, Hamann was absolutely integral as Liverpool clinched their famous Champions League triumph in 2005.

The last man to score at the old Wembley left Merseyside to join Bolton Wanderers in 2006 - albeit only for a day before signing for Manchester City.

Arjen Robben

The recently retired Dutchman is a bonafide legend in Munich, as a Champions League winner and one half of the famous 'Robbery' attacking duo alongside Franck Ribery.

However, it was at Chelsea he truly burst onto the world stage, as Jose Mourinho's side won back-to-back league titles, before he departed for Real Madrid in 2007.

Michael Ballack

Another ex-Chelsea man here, Ballack spent four years with the Bavarian club, winning three Bundesliga titles.

Before his spell at Bayern, the midfielder suffered a bitterly disappointing 2002 with Bayer Leverkusen and Germany, finishing runner up in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League, as well as losing in the 2002 World Cup final.

Still, he didn't have a bad career all in all.

Owen Hargreaves

While he suffered badly with injury throughout this career, there is no denying the Canadian-born England international was class for Bayern.

After arriving from Calgary, the midfielder spent seven glorious years in the first team in Munich, before he headed for the exit door for Manchester United, where he lifted his second Champions League title.

Jerome Boateng

The big German defender had a very very brief spell at Manchester City, before emerging as a colossus at the back in Munich.

While he's perhaps become better known for being torn apart by Lionel Messi, his near-limitless silverware and continued presence in the side is testament to his ability.

Lukas Podolski

The former Arsenal man spent three years in Munich, scoring a relatively underwhelming 26 goals in 106 games for the club in all competitions.

The man with the thunderous left boot is still plying his trade for Turkish side Antalyaspor, while he called time on his remarkable 130-cap Germany career back in 2017.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

The classy midfielder is synonymous with Bayern, amassing 500 appearances for the club in a 17 year spell, as well as helping his country to World Cup triumph in 2014.

Although he looked every bit his age after joining Manchester United in 2015, he still remains an Old Trafford fan favourite, and was simply far too good to see out his playing days at Chicago Fire.

Borussia Dortmund

Karl-Heinz Riedle

Another man who broke English hearts, the 1990 World Cup winner spent four years with Dortmund, helping the club to its remarkable 1997 Champions League victory - which Paul Lambert was also a part of, don't forget.

Fresh off the back of European glory, the striker joined Liverpool, yet scored just 11 league goals in two seasons on Merseyside.

Tomáš Rosický

The former Arsenal magician spent five years at Dortmund, with the playmaker a vital cog in the side, before joining Arsene Wenger's men.

The Czech Republic star had arrived at Die Borussen with the Bundesliga's biggest transfer fee at the time (around £8m) and helped his side to the 2002 league title ahead of Ballack's 'Neverkusen' in his first full season.

Steven Pienaar

Yep, the former Everton winger had a brief spell in Dortmund, after joining the club from Ajax in 2006.

The South African was seen by many as a replacement for the departing Rosicky - and was even handed the number 10 shirt - yet he never truly settled in Germany

Shinji Kagawa

The Japanese midfielder may have flattered to deceive at Old Trafford, but he was vital to Jurgen Klopp's talented squad of players in his first spell at the club.

In his first two seasons at the club he won back-to-back Bundesliga titles, although his second spell at the club saw the playmaker often resigned to the bench or the treatment room.

Nuri Şahin

The Turkish midfielder had a relatively brief spell at Liverpool in 2013/14, after signing on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid.

However, aside from his unremarkable spell at Anfield, Sahin has shown his talent throughout his career, and has returned to Dortmund for two separate spells.

İlkay Gündoğan

The current Manchester City midfielder was another star of Klopp's side, with the German the linchpin of the side's midfield.

Amassing 157 appearances for the club in five years, Gundogan scored a penalty for Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final defeat to Bayern.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Let's face it, the Armenian had a fairly torrid time in English football (scorpion kick aside), but it was his undoubted quality at Signal Iduna Park that secured his move in the first place.

After striking a prolific partnership with striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the midfielder became king of the assists, scoring 11 times and registering 15 in his final league season at the club as he was also named Kicker's Bundesliga Player of the Season for 2015/16.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Speaking of Aubameyang, the Gabon striker took on the mantle of the departed Robert Lewandowski in Dortmund, becoming one of Europe's most feared strikers.

His 141 goals in 231 games is a marker of the sheer quality of the rapid forward, and he's showed no signs of letting up at the Emirates.

Arsenal fans will just be praying he stays for a bit longer.